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2026.03.30 [ Photon ] Yuzuru Hanyu Photo Collection Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4910319069

By Toru Yaguchi Machine translation, inaccuracies exist Hanyu is moving forward At a speed that is not easy to catch up with In the white cyclorama studio in Sendai—so large that the heating could not fully reach every corner—the winter night air of the northern country still lingered. It was December 2023. I carried out a studio portrait shoot with Hanyu for the first time. I still remember that moment clearly. A black shirt, black pants, and bare feet. Standing in the position I indicated, Hanyu lightly stretched and repeatedly made springing, bouncing movements. His motions were soft and buoyant, as if he had wings, yet his downward gaze and expression were sharp. He reminded me of a small tiger. There was a tension there that was clearly different from any subject I had faced before. Suddenly, Hanyu stopped moving, looked straight at me, and asked, “How do you want to shoot this?” I told him, “I want to photograph something that isn’t just the material itself.”[1] Hanyu showed a face as if thinking for just a moment, then quietly replied, “You mean, show my unguarded self?” Putting it into words felt somehow off. Keeping that sensation, I gave a vague reply, and we began the shoot. The lighting was a single light: a 150-centimeter octabox placed at front-top. No matter which way Hanyu faced, no matter how largely he moved, it softly illuminated his entire body. I didn’t want to restrict his free expression any more than necessary. Following the structure I had planned in advance, I pressed the shutter in complete absorption. Movements from past programs I had seen, jumps, fleeting expressions in passing moments. When the roughly 20-minute shoot ended, Hanyu naturally extended his right hand toward me. At the moment we shook hands, I could see sweat beading on his forehead. “That was tiring,” he said, smiling. That was his answer to my request. There are things that spill away the moment one tries to explain the heart. Language organizes things and gives them form, but the heart is far vaguer and softer, closer to being unfinished. Hanyu’s skating, and the words he chooses, are always like that. Because they are offered softly without defining their contours[2], his expressions sink deeply into the hearts of those who receive them. There was a time we talked about “Danny Boy,” which he performed in an ice show. When I told him, “I felt like I could watch it forever,” Hanyu paused slightly and replied only, “I think I’ve become able to stay close to people’s hearts.” No reasons, no background were explained. And yet, when I heard those words, it somehow made sense to me, why his expression had grown this deep. Through the connections of many people, over the past two years I was fortunate enough to have several opportunities to photograph Hanyu. What I felt during that time was that, little by little, he was trying to understand me. “Which side is the main light?” “Lighting is amazing, isn’t it?” “When the outfit is black, how should the background be?” During breaks in shooting, he began to naturally ask things like this. He wasn’t simply standing there as the one being photographed; I could feel that he was interested in what we were doing, and was trying to think together about how the work could become better. Behind that attitude, there was a quiet respect toward others who stand in different positions. When you take photographs, many things are conveyed without words being exchanged: how the other person felt standing there, what kind of distance the two of you shared while facing each other. When you look back at the photos after the shoot, even the relationship at that moment, even the air flowing through that space, is clearly captured within them. Several years have passed since he turned professional. Each time we spent more time facing each other, one thing came through unmistakably: Hanyu was moving toward a place different from before. As I photographed him, there were moments when I was honest with myself. Was I unable to keep up with the speed at which he was moving? When you photograph someone, you come to vaguely understand them. But at the same time, the person being photographed can also see you very clearly. Your hesitation, the parts where you fall short, you can’t completely hide them. I think he could see that in me as well. Even so, he stood in the same place and thought things through together with me. That fact made me happy; and yet, it was frustrating. I had to try harder. Facing Hanyu was fun. And it was painful. In April 2025, we photographed again in Sendai. The location was outdoors at that same white cyclorama studio. It was just before sunset, the “magic hour.” Photographing Hanyu wrapped in the soft natural light of an open outdoor space was something I had long wanted to do. For the shoot, I set up a simple story. “You fall asleep on the sofa, and when you wake up, the sky outside the window is so beautiful that you step outside without thinking.” Then, facing a straight road ahead, I told him, “Go forward here, and then turn back toward the camera.” As he began walking, I added, “Like you’re having fun—” and he started skipping. The speed was too fast to keep up with while looking through the viewfinder, and I couldn’t help calling out, “A bit fast—too fast.”He turned around and laughed. Hanyu is moving forward. Even now, his speed doesn’t seem easy to catch up with. And yet, he shows me smiles like that. Every time I look at the photographs taken that day, I remember. The wind was strong, and it was chilly, cold for April. After the rain, a large rainbow appeared. The orange sunlight was soft. Cherry blossom petals, just beginning to fall, were dancing in the air. Worried, I asked, “Aren’t you cold?” As if circling around the sound of the wind, Hanyu replied only, “I’m fine.” You can’t let things end while they are still lacking[3]. Both the kindness and the severity that make you feel that way flow quietly through Hanyu’s expression. NOTES [1] 素材じゃない: where 素材（sozai） = material, raw material, ingredient; in photography / media: a subject as “usable content,” something processed later. “I want to capture something beyond him as a ‘resource.’ [2] 輪郭を決めない, where 輪郭（rinkaku）= outline, contour, defined shape; 決めない = not to decide, not to fix. Other options: “without fixing its shape”, “without locking down its meaning.” [3] 足りないままで終われない: 足りない = not enough, insufficient; ままで = while remaining in that state; 終われない = cannot end / cannot finish.

『羽生結弦 写真集「羽」』("Yuzuru Hanyu Photobook 'Feather'") Publication date: February 3rd, 2026 Photographer: Toru Yaguchi Pages: 160 Publisher: Fusosha Format: printed (regular and special editions with different covers) and digital (e-magazine with special cover). Regular and Special Editions, they includes a QR code to watch a making of video, which is different for each edition. The digital edition's making of video is the same as the regular edition.

Yeah there's no info so I just preordered the one that came with the early bird gift I liked best

Netflix has really landed themselves the most anticipated event of the first half of the year - the concert AND a "making of the comeback album" documentary on the 27th. I am so excited - even though the concert's at 4 am, 3/20, my time (after daylight saving time is back) https://bsky.app/profile/dailyseokjin.bsky.social/post/3mdw32cdod22d

Thats why I haven't placed my pre order yet, there is no information on the different album concepts other then the names.

I have a question about Arirang. I want to pre-order from Amazon (here in the states, they are hated but, believe it not, so is Target....). There are three different versions just blank for album cover. Sort of different versions? Anyone have a clue what is what and will they have a cover? Little info seems available (at least at Amazon) to show what's different in each version. Do you think Weverse will release more ino in the next few weeks so we'll have an idea which version we might want?

Tae is so polite - and yes, they almost all look freezing. Dubai , in addition to possible soundstages, also has beaches where the weather and water are warm so maybe a beach song? And very possible Dubai is giving them big bucks - maybe for a promotion that has nothing to do with the album, but for the country. And, yes, Namjoon does look slim, but really, they all do. Unless their faces show, the only way to know who is sho is by what they are carrying (ie LV bag gives bundled up Hobi away before you can see his face. I love Yoongi's fast tracking style that he says is out of politeness to other passengers, trying to get through as fast as he can so their own travels are not delayed. Did anyone see Mr Lee?

Anything's possible. Dubai might have a special new facility, and they gave BigHit a good deal as a way of promoting it. Maybe they have an idea, and carrying it out in Korea might not be very viable for one reason or another. Or it might just be a photoshoot unrelated to Arirang.

With their album called arirang, I don't think they would shoot the mv outside of korea🤔

Apparently they're going to Dubai for a shoot according to JK (based on translations from X). Maybe for the MV?

Our boys are off for work! Looks like they're freezing lol The way I started crying when JK and Tae started playing with the camera from Dispatch.

Will be interesting to see how Rose's nominations for apt go..... Edit: and she did not win By the way, I just saw katseye red carpet grammy look, wow, just wow🤩. And is this the light or did Namjoon loose a lot of weight/muscles?😵‍💫 https://www.instagram.com/stories/rkive/3823578966620309413?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MXU4M2I1ZHpsaWh1bg==

[2026.02.01] **Machine Translation, inaccuracies exist** The Digest Source: https://thedigestweb.com/topics_detail13/id=108709 Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20260201161144/https://thedigestweb.com/topics_detail13/id=108709 Yuzuru Hanyu donates 2 million yen to a skating rink in his hometown Sendai! Total donations to date “exceed 100 million yen” — two days earlier, he donated 54 million yen for repairs to another rink facility His feelings toward his hometown remain unchanged. The year-round skating rink “Ice Rink Sendai,” located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, updated its official website on February 1, announcing that it had newly received a 2 million yen donation from Yuzuru Hanyu, gold medalist in men’s figure skating at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games. According to the organization, it was also reported that the total amount of donations to date has reached 100,997,996 yen. His substantial support for his hometown has been drawing attention. The site distributed a release titled “Regarding a Donation from Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu.” It reported: “Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu always deeply loves his hometown Sendai and holds ‘Ice Rink Sendai’ very dear to his heart, and we have previously received his generous donations on many occasions. This time as well, we have once again received a new, substantial donation. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his repeated thoughtfulness.” Born in Sendai City, Hanyu had been going to Ice Rink Sendai since early childhood and has used it as his training base. Although the rink suffered significant damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, Hanyu has continued donating to the facility even now, after becoming a professional skater. On this occasion, he donated 2 million yen. The rink appealed: “Going forward as well, in response to the kindness of Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu, all of our staff will continue to make every possible effort so that everyone can enjoy the facility in an even more comfortable environment. We humbly ask for your continued patronage.” Two days earlier, Hanyu had also donated just over 54 million yen to the sports facility “Bell Sunpia Miyagi Izumi” in Yamato Town, Miyagi Prefecture, for the purpose of skating rink repairs. So that children who enjoy skating, and children aiming for the world from Miyagi, can skate safely… even now that he is active as a professional, Hanyu’s feelings of repaying his hometown remain unchanged. Composition: THE DIGEST Editorial Department

[2026.02.01] **Machine Translation, inaccuracies exist** Sponichi Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/02/01/articles/20260201s00079000297000c.html Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20260201160329/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/02/01/articles/20260201s00079000297000c.html Yuzuru Hanyu donates 2 million yen to his hometown Sendai skating rink — total donations exceed 100 million yen, voices calling him “otokomae”[1] “Ice Rink Sendai,” located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, updated its official website on the 1st. It reported that it had newly received a donation of 2 million yen from Yuzuru Hanyu (31), who achieved consecutive Olympic gold medals in men’s figure skating and is now active as a professional. On the site, it stated: “Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu always deeply loves his hometown Sendai and holds ‘Ice Rink Sendai’ very dear to his heart, and we have previously received his generous donations on many occasions. This time as well, we have once again received a new, substantial donation. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his repeated thoughtfulness.” Mr. Hanyu has continued to make donations to this rink, which he used as his training base, and on this occasion donated 2 million yen. It was reported that the total amount of his donations to date has reached 100,997,996 yen. The rink also appealed: “Going forward as well, in response to the kindness of Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu, all of our staff will continue to make every possible effort so that everyone can enjoy the facility in an even more comfortable environment. We humbly ask for your continued patronage.” On social media, voices followed one after another, such as: “Too ‘otokomae’,” “Yuzuru Hanyu is truly a god,” “Precious.”[2] Notes [1] “オトコマエ” slangy SNS praise meaning: cool, manly in character, gallant, admirable in action. [2] 尊い (toutoi), “precious / sacred / too pure to exist,” common fandom term.

Ice Rink Sendai ("Irene") posted on their website an announcement of a new donation received from Yuzuru Hanyu: https://icerink-sendai.net/news/detail.php?id=20 To Our Customers, Thank you very much for your continued patronage of Ice Rink Sendai and for your generous support and cooperation. Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu always deeply loves his hometown Sendai and holds ‘Ice Rink Sendai’ very dear to his heart, and we have previously received his generous donations on many occasions. This time as well, we have once again received a new, substantial donation. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his repeated thoughtfulness. We will use this donation meaningfully and strive to further improve customer satisfaction. Going forward as well, in response to the kindness of Mr. Yuzuru Hanyu, all of our staff will continue to make every possible effort so that everyone can enjoy the facility in an even more comfortable environment. We humbly ask for your continued patronage. Donation amount received this time: ¥2,000,000 Total donations from Yuzuru Hanyu: ¥109,971,996 February 1, 2026 Kato Shokai Co., Ltd. Representative Director: Matsuhiko Kato

They may be ignored otherwise by Grammys, but then there is this: